ons, and
labour to keep their garments pure by refusing to comply with that course
of backsliding, and by bearing testimony against the same. And we hope the
expectation of such, shall not be disappointed, but that the Lord will
open to them a doore for carrying on of his work, and making the lying
spirit to passe out of that land.

And albeit many think no otherwise of the Covenant and work of
Reformation, then as a mean to further their own ends; yet we are
confident, that none who holds fast their integrity, have so learned
Christ, but are carefull to make conscience of the oath of God lying on
them; And we are sure (whatever be the base thoughts and expressions of
backsliders from the Covenant) it wants not many to own it in those
Kingdomes, who (being called thereto) would seale the same with their
blood.

Although there were none in the one Kingdome who did adhere to the
Covenant, yet thereby were not the other Kingdom nor any person in either
of them absolved from the bond thereof, since in it we have not only
sworne by the Lord, but also covenanted with him. It is not the failing of
one or more that can absolve others from their duty or tye to him;
Besides, the duties therein contained, being in themselves lawfull, and
the grounds of our tye thereunto moral, though others do forget their
duty, yet doth not their defection free us from that obligation which lyes
upon us by the Covenant in our places and stations. And the Covenant being
intended and entred into by these Kingdoms, as one of the best means of
stedfastnesse, for guarding against declining times; It were strange to
say that the back-sliding of any should absolve others from the tye
thereof, especially seeing our engagement therein is not only nationall,
but also personall, every one with uplifted hands swearing by himselfe, as
it is evident by the tennor of the Covenant.

From these and other important reasons, it may appear that all these
Kingdomes joyning together to abolish that oath by law, yet could they not
dispense therewith; Much lesse can any one of them, or any part in either
of them doe the same. The dispensing with oathes hath hitherto been
abhorred as Antichristian, and never practised and avowed by any, but by
that man of sin; therefore those who take the same upon them, as they joyn
with him in his sin, so must they expect to partake of his plagues.

As we shall ever (God willing) be mindfull of our duty to the faithfull
that adhere